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119-hr-2394119th Congress

DETERRENCE Act

Sponsored By: Representative Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]

Introduced

Summary

Adds extra prison time when violent or political crimes are carried out at the direction of a foreign government. The DETERRENCE Act would create offense-specific sentence enhancements when an offense is knowingly directed or coordinated with a foreign government or its agent, and it adds definitions and cross-reference changes to support those penalties.

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  • Families and victims: Kidnapping tied to foreign-state direction could carry up to 10 additional years, with attempts eligible for up to 5 additional years. Stalking gets higher penalties when serious injury, death, or a child victim is involved, including up to 10 years for deaths and about 2.5 years in lesser cases.
  • Federal officials and presidential staff: Attacks, threats, or retaliation against federal employees or the President's staff can carry enhancements up to 10 years when linked to foreign-state coordination. Murder-for-hire linked to a foreign government faces up to 5 years or up to 10 years when personal injury results.
  • Criminal justice system: The bill expands federal sentencing authority across multiple statutes rather than creating new programs. It adds tailored enhancements and related definitional and cross-reference tweaks so courts can apply the new penalties when foreign coordination is proven.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Extra prison time for foreign-led crimes

This bill would add extra prison time when certain federal crimes are done at a foreign government’s direction or with its agent. Covered crimes would include kidnapping, murder-for-hire, assaults on federal officials or the President, and stalking. Courts could add from up to 30 months to up to 10 years, depending on the facts. In some cases, attempts and conspiracies would also get extra time. If enacted, this would take effect right away and would not pay money to households. It could improve public safety by deterring foreign-directed attacks.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]

MO • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Rep. Moran, Nathaniel [R-TX-1]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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